Wringer



Patented Jan. 6, 19.42

UNITED s'rATEsPATENT oFFlc wmNGEa Walter L. Kaui'fman, II, Eric, Pa., assignor to Love]] Manufacturing Company, Erle, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 22, 1938, Serial No. 197,387 12 Claims. (Cl. 68-258) The present invention is designed to give a more definite control to the pressure exerted on thepower wringer rolls. The more common method of exerting pressure on rolls has involved a spring or springs which could be for various pressures and which ordinarily increasedin pressure as the wringer rolls were opened. The present invention in a general way substitutes a frictional power actuated mechanism for the spring or adds it to the spring so that there may be a v more uniform pressure exerted which may be adjusted as desired and which will automatically release with the stopping of the power. In carrying forward the invention the pressure from the friction device is delivered to the rolls to an in pressures along the length of the roll.

The invention contemplates also a remote control of the driving mechanism and consequently the pressure exerting means. The invention also trol pressure exerting mechanism whereby it may be more readily controlled and placed with relation to the rolls so as to -maintain its friction surfaces'in a `uniiorm condition. Further features and details of the invention will appear from' the specification and claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows:

Fig. 1 shows a central longitudinal section of the wringer.

Fig. 2 a section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 a front elevation of the friction device partly in section.

Fig. 4 a view of a washing wringer attached illustrating the driving control.

Fig. 5 a section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 a central section of the wringe'r showing a modification of the device.

ig. '7 an enlarged Vertical section of the fric-' tion device on the line 'l-'l in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 an enlarged plan view of the friction adjusting mechanism.

Springs IO are arranged between the bearings 81 machine with a' Fig. 9 a perspective view of the same mecha-W the bearings being mounted` .15 equalizer so that the rolls can yield to variations contemplates an improvement in the friction conand 9, the Springs being provided with caps bridging the bearing slotsv in the bearings 8 and 9. These Springs tend to open the shafts.

.The wringer is carried by a post |2 which is mounted in brackets |3 and |4 extending from a washing machine |5. The power for the washing machine and wringer is supplied by electric motor IB mounted in the base of the washing machine. This motor drives a belt l'l, which belt in turn drives a gear mechanism iii from which extends a shaft driven through the gear mechanism IS. Bevel gears 20 are fixed on the shaft I 9 which drives a bevel gear 2| splined on the shaft 22. The shaft 22 is arranged 'in bearings 23 in the post |2. The upper end of the shaft 22 is provided with a cross clutch pin 24 which is adapted to engage in a detent 25 in a clutch member 26. The clutch member 26 is fixed on a shaft 21, this shaft being journaled in bearings 28 in a head 29 and extends through bearing 30 in a case 3| ,formed on the head. The case has a bracket 3ia which is secured to the stile 3. A clutch member 32 having clutch jaws is adapted to engage clutch detents 34 in bevel gears 33. The clutch member has a groove 35 which is engaged by crank 36 carried by a shaft 31. A handle 38 is provided for the shaft 31 by meansof which the clutch member may be shifted to engage the driving mechanism, the shift as to one gear driving in one direction and the o pposite gear in the opposite direction in the usual manner. A bevel gear 39 meshes with the gears 33. 'It is fixed on a shaft 40 which is connected through a universal joint 4| with the shaft 6.

A push pin 22a is arranged under the shaft 22. It is carried by an arm of a bell crank lever 22h, pivoted on a bracket 22c on the frame of the washer. A rod 22d extends from the lower end of the bell crank lever 22b to a bell crank lever 22e pivoted on a bracket 22 on the frame. One arm of the bell crank lever extends outwardly forming the pedal 22g. A spring 22h normally elevates the push pin 22a and 'consequently the shaft and holds the driving clutch 24-28 in engagement so'that the driving mechanism is normally set. By depressing the pedal the operator can instantly disengage'the clutch 24-26 and thus stop the driving mechanism. p

The pressure mechanism is as follows: A nut 42 'is ai'ranged on the shaft 21. It has a quick thread in. which operates a pin 43 on the shaft 21. The nut is yieldingly held against rotation so that with the driving of the shaft 21 in a pre-l determined direction the pin tends to lift the nut. The nut is provided with a groove 44 in which operate rollers 45, these rollers being iournaled on trunnions 48. 'I'he trunnions extend from screws 41 arranged in a friction ring 48. The friction ring is provided with friction pads 49 which are adapted to engage the side walls of the nut when the ring is tilted. A forked arm 50 extends from the ring 4|. A spring is secured to the arm and the head and exerts initiai yielding tilting pressure on the ring 48 so as to exert an initial frictional engagement between the pads 49 and the walls of 'thenut 42. An arm 52 extends from the opposite side of the ring. A screw 53 is in the path of the arm 52 and engages it at the desired upper maximum lift of the nut. The screw aifords an adjustment controlling the 'maximum initial pressure exerted by the nut.

A lever 54 has a forked end i! which engages a pin 56 in the forked arm 50. The lever 54 is pivoted on a pin 58 extending across the wringer top 59. The inner end of the lever has a bearing point 60 engaging in a notch 8| in an equalizing bar 62, the bar resting on the opposite bearings i.

The operation of the pressure device is as follows: As the rotation of the shaft 21 starts, the frictional engagement of the pads 49 through the action of the spring 5| retards the nut 42 sufiiciently to start a lifting action of the nut through the operation of the pin 43 on the screw threads. Immediately with the lifting of the nut, pressure is put on the lever 54 and this pressure operates through the forked arm 50 so as to exert greater tilting action on the ring 48. This exerts a frictional resistance through the pads 49 on the nut so that with a continued movement of the shaft the nut is elevated exerting initial pressure on the rolls and this continues.

until the arm 52 engages the screw ll, when continued movement of the lifting of the nut tilts 'the ring 48 so as to relieve pressure on the pads.

As soon as the friction is released sufiiciently to bring the lifting effect of the screw into balance, the nut tums and no added pressure is delivered to the lever 54. When clothes are introduced to the rolls, thus separating the rolls, the lifting of the inner end of the lever moves the outer end of the lever downwardly and forces the nut downwardly against the lifting action of the screw and the friction. The pitch of the threads of the screw are such that this return movement and consequent reversal of movement of the nut will add only the desired added lifting pressure to the outer end of the lever. Thus the nut is yieldingly forced upwardly through the retarding eifect of the friction, but the pitch is such that it will move downwardly when suflicient pressure is exerted. In other words, the nut tends to climb all the time but yields to an opening of the rolls but during this yielding maintains its pressure all the time. The continued pressure of the screw assures a continued pressure on the rolls as the clothes permit of a retum movement of the rolls into closer relation. Thus the pressure on the clothes may be readily adjusted so that with a separation of the rolls the increase in pressure over the initial pressure on the rolls may be adjusted as desired.

By varying the lever relation of the lever 54 and the arm 50 the frictional engagement of the pads 49 may be changed as desired and this frictional engagement transmitted into resistance of movement by the screw lfixes the pressure which' is transmitted through the action of the screw to the lever 54 and consequently to the rolls.

Should the operator become caught in the rolls the driving connection between the :lutlts'v 22 and 21 may be broken at the clutch 24-28 by depressing the pedai 22a. Immediately upon breaking this connection the nut is retracted through the back pressure of the lever 54 and consequently release's 'the pressure on the rolls, and the rolls are separated through the action of the springs IO. At the same time this stops the driving action of the gears so that the operator can readily withdraw the hand from the rolls. Thus a safety device-is aiforded both as to pressure and as to the driving of the rolls and 'this safety may be accomplished through a foot lever or control means set at a point remote from. the wringer.

The pressure may be also instantly released by releasing the top bar 59. The top bar is arranged telescopically over the side stiles, and Shoulders 63 struck upon the stile at 84 on the top bar detachably lock one end of the top bar on a stile.

At the opposite end of the top bar a latch 65 is pivotally secured on the top bar and engages a notch 85a in the stile. The latch is provided with a handle ii. By depressing the handle the outer end of the top bar is released and swings, upwardly which in turn will disengage the shoulders and 64 andpermit a free upward movement of the top bar.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 to 9 the same wringer frame and wringer roll arrangement is provided, the same wringer mounting and gear arrangement also' provided, and the same clutch mechanism and controls are used.

` The manner of controlling the friction is changed and the pressure is delivered through a spring equalizer instead of a rigid member as shown in Fig. 1.

In this construction a washer 61 is arranged on the top of the nut. It has a projection 81h extending into the nut and anupward projection 61a. The projection 61h looks the washer or plate G1 with the nut. A friction disc 68 is arranged above the washer 81. A plate 69 rests on. the friction disc. The plate 89 has an upwardly extending head 10 which engages a lever 1|. A pressure head 12 rests on the plate 69. This head is slotted at 13 and the end of the lever 1| extends into this slot and rests on the head. The lever is pivoted by a pin 14 on the wringer top. The inner end of the lever 1| engages a bracket 15 arranged centrally on a spring 18. The ends of the spring rest on the upper bearings 9. The initial pressure is delivered through a spring 11 which is lsecured to the lever 1| and to the head.

With this initial pressure exerted through the friction disc il the nut is retarded and as it starts to move upwardly through the action of the screw the pressure of the spring 16 is exerted through the friction disc. The friction is so balanced with relation to the thrust of the screw thatwith a predetermined or desired compression of the spring further upward movement ceases with a given pressure. In order that this may be nicely accomplished a screw 18 extends through the end of the lever 1| and the bearing block 12 into engagement with the projection 61a on 'the plate 81, thus limiting the pressure effect of the lever on the friction washer 88 and in consequence reducing the retarding effect of the washer 68 on the nut, and this in turn reduces the lifting power or pressure exerting power of the nut. When the driving connection is broken the pressure on the lever Immediately retracts 'the nut and pressure `is relieved on the rolls and the separation is assisted by reason of the springs Ill.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a power wringer the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; a pressure device for the rolls operated from a central position through an equalizer on both ends of the rolls; a pressure setting device; and a vpower means Operating on the setting device to exert pressure on the pressure device, holding the setting device during the operation of the power means and releasing the pressure with the stopping of the power means.

2. In a power wringer the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; a pressure device for the rolls; a setting device for the pressure device comprising a screw mechanism; a power means; a yielding friction connection between the power means and the screw mechanism actuating the screw mechanism to energize the setting device; and a stop means releasing the friction at a predetermined initial pressure on the rolls.

I 3. In a power wringer the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; a pressure device for the rolls; a setting device for the pressure device comprising a screw mechanism; a power means; a yielding friction'connection between the power means and the screw mechanism actuating the screw mechanism to. energize the setting device, the screw pitch of the mechanism permitting the Vretracting of the screw mechanism to release the pressure with the release of power; and means releasing the power having an actuating member adjacent the floor level.

4. In alwringer, the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; expansively tele- .scopic screw mechanism; means to rotate one part of said screw mechanism, the other part of said screw mechanism being restrained from rocontrolling the setting action of the power device on the setting device.

7. In a power wringer or the like, the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; a pressure device for the rolls; a setting device for the pressure device comprising a screw mechanism actuating the setting device through the operation of the screw mechanism; `a power i means-actuating the screw mechanism; and a tative movement by friction means operatively associated with the frame, the thread of the screw mechanism being arranged and adapted so that relative rotative movement of the parts of the screw mechanism results in expansive telescopic movement; devices to utilize the expansive movement to cause a relative approach of the rolls; and devices responsive to a pre-determined expansion of the screw mechanism to control the said friction means whereby the screw mechanism may rotate as a unit to prevent further expansion.

5. In a power wringer or the like, the combinationof a frame; rolls mountedin the frame; a

` pressure device for the rolls' operating from a central position through an equalizer on both ends of the rolls; a pressure setting device; a power means energizing the setting device to exert pressure on the pressure device; and a yielding friction controlling means controlling' the setting action of the power device on the setting device.

6. In a power wringer or the like, the combination ofa frame; rolls mounted in the frame; a pressure device for the rolls operating from a central position through an equalizer on both ends of the rolls; a pressure setting device; a power means energizing the setting device to' exert pressure on the pressure device, said power means releasing the pressure through the set- I .ting device with the stopping of the power means; and a yielding friction controlling means yielding friction controlling means controlling the action of the screw-mechanism to control the energizing of the setting means.

8. In a power wringer or the like, the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; a pressure ,device for the rolls; a setting device for the pressure device comprising a screw mechanism actuating the setting device through the operation of` the screw mechanism; a power mearm actuating the screw mechanism, permitting a return movement of the screw mechanism; and a yielding friction controlling means controlling the action of the screw mechanism to controlthe energizing of the setting means, the pitch of the screw mechanism permitting the retraction of the screw mechanism to release the pressure with the release of power.

9. In a power wringer or the like, the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; a pressure device for the rolls; a setting device for the pressure device comprising a screw mechanism actuating the setting device through the operation of the screw mechanism; a power means actuating the screw mechanism; a ylelding friction controlling means controlling the action of the screw mechanism to control the energizing of the setting means; and means adjusting the friction device to control the screw thrust at the desired pressure.

10. In a power wringer or the like, thecombination'of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; a pressure device for the rolls comprising a spring; a setting device for the-pressure device vcomprising a screw mechanism actuating the setting device through the operation of the screw mechanism; a power means actuating the screw mechanism; and a yielding friction controlling means controlling the action of the screw mechanism to control the energizing of the setting means.

ll. In a power wringer or the like, the combination of a frame; rolls mounted in the frame; a

pressure device for the rolls comprising an equalits pressure intermediate its ends; a setting de-- vice for the pressure device comprising a screw mechanism actuating the setting device through the operation'of the screw mechanism; a power means actuating the screw mechanism; and a yielding friction controlling means controlling the action ofl the screw mechanism to control the energizing of the setting means.

WALTER L. KAUFFMAN, vII. 

